Laying Hold

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

[175]

[1] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these five controlling powers.

What five?

The controlling power of faith,
the controlling power of energy,
the controlling power of mindfulness,
the controlling power of concentration,
the controlling power of insight.

And of what sort, monks,
is the controlling power of faith?

Herein, monks, the Ariyan disciple has faith.

He has faith in the wisdom of the Tathāgata, thus:

He it is, the Exalted One,
Arahant,
supremely Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
world-knower,
unsurpassed charioteer of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.

This, monks, is called
'the controlling power of faith.'

■

And of what sort, monks,
is the controlling power of energy?

It is that energy one lays hold of
in practising the four best efforts.

This, monks, is called
'the controlling power of energy.'

■

And of what sort, monks,
is the controlling power of mindfulness?

It is that mindfulness one lays hold of
in practising^[2] the four stations of mindfulness.

This, monks, is called
'the controlling power of mindfulness.'

■

And of what sort, monks,
is the controlling power of concentration?

Herein, monks, the Ariyan disciple,
making self-surrender [176] the object of his thought,
lays hold of concentration,
lays hold of one-pointedness.

This, monks, is called
'the controlling power of concentration.'

■

And of what sort, monks,
is the controlling power of insight?

Herein, monks, the Ariyan disciple
is possessed of insight thus:

He has insight
for tracing out the rise and fall of things,
insight which is Ariyan,
penetrating,
going on to the utter destruction of ill.

This, monks, is called
'the controlling power of insight.'

Such, monks, are the five controlling powers."

^[1] The title of the chapter (mudutara) comes from § ii.

^[2] Ārabbha. Comy. bhāvento = 'making more.'

Saɱyutta Nikāya 5. Mahā-Vagga 48. Indriya Saɱyutta 2. Mudatara Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings 5. The Great Chapter 48. Kindred Sayings on the Faculties 2. In A Less Degree[1]

Sutta 11

Paṭilābho Suttaɱ

Laying Hold

Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
48. Indriya Saɱyutta
2. Mudatara Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
48. Kindred Sayings on the Faculties
2. In A Less Degree^[1]